Archive for June, 2009

JOHOR BARU: A 42-year-old supplier of alcoholic beverages was gunned down by an unknown assailant after his vehicle was knocked from behind.

Wong Bak Wei, who was with his wife and sister-in-law, was driving his Toyota Estima in Taman Molek after dropping off his son at a nearby tuition centre.

Then, Wong and the two women went on their way for grocery shopping at about 9.55am in Taman Johor Jaya when a car, believed to be a Toyota Vios, bumped into his vehicle from behind.

When Wong got out of his vehicle and went to the back to inspect the damage, the unknown assailant shot him point-blank in the head.

Seri Alam OCPD Supt Roslan Zainuddin said police were ruling out robbery as a motive as the victim’s belongings did not go missing.

“We are still ascertaining the murder weapon used. We have not recovered any bullet shells or casings,” he said, adding that police were checking whether the victim had any enemies or past criminal records.

The body, he said, had been sent to the Sultanah Aminah Hospital for a post-mortem.

He urged anyone with information to contact the police hotline at 07-221 2999 or the nearest police station.

But get this: In contrast to the first film where the President of the United States’ identity is hinted at but not made explicit, and a fictional Vice President calls the shots, this time around the President is clearly named as Obama.

And a very true to life Obama it is! Because while he doesn’t make an actual appearance, his presence is left throughout the movie.

Observe the following:

1) An official representative is sent by the President (Obama) himself to carry out the President’s will with the authority of the President’s signature. Said representative is nothing but an ostentatious career bureauweenie who is appointed – czar-like and overruling – over the heads of the military by the President himself, to oversee and eventually dismantle the Human-Autobot alliance… Despite having a total lack of experience or hands-on knowledge about the subject matter. [Leon Panetta and the CIA, Brian Deese and GM’s dismantling]

2) He ignores and belittles the experience and advice of troops on the ground who have actually been working with the Autobots to fight the Decepticons, in favour of his own (and by extension, Obama’s) pre-conceived notions. [Obama’s attitude towards General Petraeus and the Surge in Iraq]

3) He turns his back to the Autobots (again, merely reflecting the President’s stance) despite their history of cooperation, alliance and friendship. [Poland and Czech Republic, Israel]

5) When the Decepticons issue an ultimatum and threats of mass destruction, he delivers the President’s policy of seeking diplomatic negotiations despite advice from those who know the Decepticons that negotiations and appeasement do not work with genocidal fanatics… And even if it means acquiescing to the enemy’s demands and sacrificing one of their own, innocent people. [Iran’s protests and nukes, North Korea and nukes, Russia and missile defense vis-a-vis Poland, Taliban in the Swat Valley of Pakistan]

Wahkakakakakaka! Who said there’s no reality in Hollywood? Apparently, Michael Bay isn’t much in the tank for Chairman Zero!

Kelantan Umno liaison chief Datuk Mustapa Mohamad is shocked that some PAS leaders have resorted to telling party supporters in Manek Urai that they must defend the seat even if they have to “shed blood”.

Mustapa said it was regrettable for leaders to incite their supports by becoming so emotional when the by-election was just about winning influence.

“I am shocked that some PAS leaders can come out with talk of bloodshed and violence and this is very dangerous.

“Barisan Nasional rejects such approach because at the end of the day, this is just politics,” Mustapa said in his speech before the launching of the Barisan election machinery by Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal here on Saturday night.

He added that Barisan would not employ dangerous and desperate tactics as used by PAS, and urged those involved to stop doing so as it would be difficult to control their supporters once they became highly emotional.

“Has PAS lost the art of wooing the hearts of the voters or have they lost their minds to subscribe to such a militant approach?” he asked, adding that in the end, the winner would be decided by peaceful voters.

Dr M has a sort-of survey going on at his blog. See it and speak your mind at Che Det.

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Here are some views on the issue of whether English should be a compulsory to pass subject in the SPM, from The Star 9 June 2009:

Malaysian English Language Teaching Association president Dr S. Ganakumaran said that before making English compulsory, the Government must upgrade the quality of teaching and learning, as well as the professional skills of teachers.

Parent Action Group for Education chairman Datin Noor Azimah Abd Rahim concurs, saying that it can only be carried out when weaknesses within the teaching profession had been ironed out.

“It is one way for the standard of English to be improved, but the issue of Teaching of Mathematics and Science in English has to be sorted out first,” she said.

Movement for the Abolition of Teaching and Learning Science and Mathematics in English president Datuk Dr Hassan Ahmad disagrees with the idea.

“If a student obtained As in all subjects except English, this means he failed his SPM. He would become a victim of the English Language colonisation,” he said.

Dr Hassan said it would be more sensible for the Government to revamp the teaching of English to ensure all students, particularly those in the rural areas, became proficient in the language.

As The Star reports, Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin wants the public’s feedback on the matter by calling the Education Ministry’s customer service line at 03 – 7723 7070 or by emailing to kpkpm@moe.gov.my.

Here’s my take on the matter: No, English shouldn’t be a compulsory to pass subject in the SPM. Here is my reasoning:

The majority of Malaysian students (and indeed, Malaysians on the whole) suck at English. By forcing them to pass English in SPM before being allowed to move on to the next level of education, we would be hamstringing their otherwise workable results (e.g. excellent maths or technical skills).

Of course, by allowing students to basically ignore English all the way to university, we would be producing citizens who cannot function in the international, English-compulsory stage. And they would be sorely tested if university lectures are held in English.

But does everybody really need a university education? The nation needs plenty of service and technically-skilled personnel, such as mechanics, electricians, locksmiths… All stuff that a tertiary-level egghead like myself cannot do!

And does everyone in Malaysia really need to speak English on par with British or American standards? We need professionals at home too, instead of planning to send out every graduate overseas. Indeed, I bet a fair percentage of local students have no plans at all of venturing outside Malaysia where their reliance on only their mother tongue would be a setback.

And if a worker decides that he or she wants to move on to lucrative international employment, they can start learning English on their own accord (or study harder during school years to ace that SPM exam). Indeed, this is already demonstrated with Mandarin – countless students and professionals are picking it up all on their own, in order to capitalize on the emergence of China as a world player (perhaps the world player). Yet we don’t see the government debating whether or not to make Chinese a compulsory pass subject.

The same goes for other skills often sought out by employers but not formally and compulsorily taught, such as computer literacy, driver’s license, sales skills, sucking up to the boss, etc.

In conclusion, by not making English a prerequisite to an adequately-lit future, we can reach a compromise between having an internationally-capable workforce (those who make individual efforts to learn English, for their own benefit) and not unduly burdening those who only aim to be part of the local workforce (and have no intention at all to ever step out of their local-dialect comfort zones).

Frankly, the level of English required to pass SPM is much higher than that needed for basic communication. Of course, ‘pasar’ English is not going to hammer out a functional resume… But as I keep harping on about, if applicants really want that high paying job in a multinational firm, then they should go out and learn English on their own initiative!

PS. As I’ve said before, English is stupid and hard! But if it weren’t, I wouldn’t have a job…

PPS. This entire post is so not a cynical ploy to increase my employability relative to others. Really.

“As a student of history, I also know civilisation’s debt to Islam. It was Islam – at places like Al-Azhar University – that carried the light of learning through so many centuries, paving the way for Europe’s Renaissance and Enlightenment. It was innovation in Muslim communities that developed the order of algebra; our magnetic compass and tools of navigation; our mastery of pens and printing; our understanding of how disease spreads and how it can be healed. Islamic culture has given us majestic arches and soaring spires; timeless poetry and cherished music; elegant calligraphy and places of peaceful contemplation. And throughout history, Islam has demonstrated through words and deeds the possibilities of religious tolerance and racial equality.”

See the link for more analysis of Obama’s flunking history, but I’m focusing on just two of his ginormous errors.

As a full-blooded Chinese, I am appalled and incensed that Obama couldn’t even bother to check Wikipedia to find out what everyone else knows – that the magnetic compass and printing were two of the Four Great Inventions of ancient China.

Our inventions! You ignorant, pompous and condescending American liberal! You tremendous suck-up and political chameleon. Yes, you are! Why else would you three times deny that America is a Christian nation even though it has the largest Christian population in the world, while claiming that America could be considered one of the largest Muslim nations?

It is likely that due to trade, Middle Easterners were familiar with printing centuries before this incident, yet because of Islamic religious resistance they did not adopt this great invention until a thousand years or more after it had been invented in China. Minorities such as Jews or Greek and Armenian Christians were the first to use printing presses in the Ottoman realms. The first book printed in the Persian language was probably a Judaeo-Persian Pentateuch.

Summary of Me

scottthongblog[at]yahoo[dot]com

Seeking truth, hating lies.

Oh my labels!

Free thinking, but not a Free Thinker.
A Christian and a scientist, but not a Christian Scientist.
Believing in a universal church, but not a Catholic.
Trying to be a saint in these latter days, but not a Latter Day Saint.
A witness for Jehovah, but not a Jehovah's Witness.
Sumitted to God, but not a Muslim.
Seeking knowledge, but not a Gnostic.
Rational in thinking, but not a Rationalist.
Upholding humanity, but not a Humanist.
A supporter of liberation, but not a Liberal.
A supporter of democracy, but not a Democrat.
Acknowledging the importance of social values, but not a Socialist.
Seeking and valuing truth, but not a Truther.